75 Years Ago – May 31, 1945
Annual Convention Aroostook WCTU — The 65th Annual Convention of the Aroostook County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was held at the Methodist Church in Presque Isle May 23, with the president, Mrs. Gladys Sweet of Houlton, presiding.
There was a large delegation from the unions of the county. The convention was opened with devotions by Mrs. Doris McGorman of the Caribou Union. After the salute to the flag, led by Mrs. Edith Thomas of Caribou, the following committees were appointed for the day: pages, Mrs. Pearl Benn and Mrs. Hostense Hubble; credentials, Mrs. Beatrice Tomlinson, Mrs. Ella Paula and Mrs. Doric McGorman.
American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Sale success — Mrs. Bessie Fulto, president of Ray Goding Unit No. 88, Auxiliary, thanked the community for the excellent support given to the Poppy Sale on May 26. The sale was under the chairmanship of Mrs. Walter Cassidy, with the assistance of a corps of helpers.
Flying Cross presented to Sgt. James Williams — Westover Field, Mass,. May 23, The Distinguished Flying Cross was presented to S/Sgt. James M. Williams, Presque Isle, at a decoration ceremony held at this First Air Force combat crew training base. Sgt. Williams, an overseas veteran, won the award for “extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight,” according to the citation.
50 Years Ago – June 3, 1970
First National Banks merged — The First National Bank of Aroostook, The County’s second largest bank, became a reality. The announcement was made that the merger between the First National Bank of Houlton and the First National Bank of Fort Fairfield, became effective on June 2, 1970. James M. Pierce, former president of the Houlton bank, was elected chairman of the board with Milford C. Locke, former president of the Fort Fairfield bank, elected vice chairman. Francis M. Pierce became president of the new bank; George E. Roach, executive vice president; J. Frederick Donald, senior vice president and cashier; and David I. Dorsey, senior vice president, Northern Division. Other officers of the two banks also received title changes and continued as officers of the new bank.
Making paper — Mrs. Doris Murchie’s fifth-grade students at Higgins Elementary School in Mapleton made a 5-M paper mill, beginning from the forest and continuing to the finished product. After learning about the various steps involved in making paper, the students followed a recipe and made their own paper.
Deanery 8 held a meeting — A meeting of all CYOs in Deanery 8, Aroostook County, was held on May 20 in the Holy Rosary Parish Hall, Caribou. Representatives from Presque Isle, Ashland, Van Buren, Madawaska, St. Agatha, Fort Kent and Caribou were present. New officers were elected during the meeting. Paul Hunter, Presque Isle, was elected president; Sallee Mae Wakem, Caribou, vice president; Nancy Soucy, Ashland, secretary; Glen Ouellette, Van Buren, treasurer; and Pat Powers, Presque Isle, parliamentarian. A constitution was adopted following the elections.
25 Years Ago – May 24, 1995
Scouts at state Capitol — Governor Anugus S. King, Jr., welcomed Girl Scout Troop 302 from Presque Isle to his Capitol office. The scouts, Jessica Lipschultz, Heather Powers, Sarah Kelley and Julie Johnson from the Cunningham School, and Renee Graham and Nicole St. Pierre from the Skyway Middle School, along with their troop leaders, Carol Lipschultz and Mary Graham, interviewed the governor on issues of education, agriculture and what it is like to be governor.
Best in match — The Central Aroostook Kennel Club held an American Kennel Club-sanctioned dog match on May 14. Best in match was Jonas, an English Setter owned by Debra Madore of Presque Isle and Gerald Levesque of Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Best Junior Handler was won by Stacey Tully of Washburn. Thirty dogs from the local area and Canada were entered into the competition, which took place at the forum in Presque Isle.
